The week that could help define Brexit

14/01/2019

It’s Monday, it’s a new week, and while we won’t pretend to know everything that’s going to happen over the next seven days, we have some sense of what’s coming up.Here’s your briefing on some of the most important and interesting stories happening in the week ahead.1) The biggest of weeks for BrexitWhat’s happening?On Tuesday,…

It’s Monday, it’s a new week, and while we won’t pretend to know everything that’s going to happen over the next seven days, we have some sense of what’s coming up.

Here’s your briefing on some of the most important and interesting stories happening in the week ahead.

1) The biggest of weeks for Brexit

What’s happening?

On Tuesday, British MPs will vote on the deal struck by Prime Minister Theresa May on how to exit the European Union on 29 March.

Why does it matter?

This is one of the most important weeks building up to Brexit (if not the most important week), and the British political landscape could look very, very different by the weekend.

Mrs May is facing fierce opposition to her plan, and when MPs vote, they’re likely to hand her the biggest defeat for the government in a century.

The question then becomes: what next? What is the Plan B? Is there a Plan B? Could Britain leave the EU without any deal at all?

2) Trump’s two years

Image copyrightEPA

What’s happening?

Sunday marks the mid-way point of Donald Trump’s presidency… or a quarter of the way, if he was to win another four-year term.

Why does it matter?

Dates like this always provide an opportunity for reflection on what has been achieved during a president’s term, and it will be no different in 2019.

His supporters would point to a raft of promises kept: from sweeping tax cuts, the tearing-up of trade deals and the targeting of Islamic State.

But the anniversary looks like it could take place amid the backdrop of a government shutdown that has dragged on for three weeks (unless things are resolved over the coming days).